- Play outside in the nice spring sunlight.
- Develop scientific curiosity through observations of insects (butterflies, ladybugs, pill bugs, worms, ants, etc.) in the yard.
- Make Koinobori and look forward to the Children's Day.
- Learn about your mother's work and develop the sense of appreciation to your mother through preparation of Mothers' Day gift.
- Practice the Undokai events and look forward to the sports day.
- Keep up with washing hands and rinsing mouths.

We will have our annual "Children's Day Celebration Event" at the Huntington Library. Date and Time: Sunday, April 29th 13:30-15:00
Place: renovated Japanese garden
Program: workshop of Children's Day Origami, Storytime, songs (Koinobori, Katatsumuri, Inu no Omawarisan, Kawaii Kakurenbo, KNI School Song)
Please practice the songs at home for the event.

We are accepting applications for the school year 2012-2013. The children who are currently enrolled and their siblings may apply now. We will accept children new to KNI starting in May. We hope to see everyone again in the next school year! (Renewal registration fee is $30.)

During the Spring Break, I visited the disaster area which I had been wanting to visit for the longest time. Since I had never been to Tohoku before, I was very nervous to go there by myself, but I was able to visit the Shishiore Elementary School in Kesennuma, Miyagi without any trouble.

The Principal of the school told me the story of what happened one year ago on the day of the earthquake in the Principal's office where a broken clock still hung on the wall showing the time of the earthquake. After that, he drove me around to show me how it is still like around the school. That famous large ship that has become a sort of a monument of the Tsunami, pushed inland by the big wave, was laying right next to the school. The area around the school used to be a densely populated residential area, but now it is just a vast open space with nothing on it. Burnt areas were a result of the large oil tank explosion. I was told that the blazing inferno covered from the surface of the ocean all the way to the inland area.

The Principal also told me about how he led the students for 3 days trying to evacuate to a safer place. While there were many unfortunate students who were taken by the Tsunami in other areas, the Principal said he we extremely happy when he was able to return all of his students to their parents. His stories touched me deeply in my heart.

Inside the school, numerous letters from all around the world and many thousand cranes were hanging on the wall. I delivered the money we raised through various activities and the letters that our Saturday class students wrote.

The Principal asked us not to forget about the Great Earthquake and the students of this school. He also asked us to continue sending them the best wishes as long as we can.

I intend to carefully share the details of my trip with the children at KNI and pass on the stories of the disaster to all.